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waterboard and detention made their voices heard at yesterday's confirmation hearing for john brennan as cia director. >> they won't even tell congress what country we are killing children in. >> please -- >> senator feinstein. >> if you could please expedite the removal. >> more important than the children of pakistan and yemen? are they more important? do your job! >> the hearing serve as a public discussion of the most controversial counterterrorism policies that began under president george w. bush and, in part, have continued and expanded under president obama. brennan's defense of the secrecy surrounding the administration's most questionable program, targeted assassinations using drone aircraft, was as opaque as the program itself. >> what we need to do is optimize transparency on these issues, but at the same time optimize secrecy and the protection of our national security. i don't think that it's one or the other. it's trying to optimize both of them. >> some senators, including ron widen and angus king, pushed brennan to explain the legal at and justification for assassinating ame
waterboard and detention made their voices heard at yesterday's confirmation hearing for john brennan as cia director. >> they won't even tell congress what country we are killing children in. >> please -- >> senator feinstein. >> if you could please expedite the removal. >> more important than the children of pakistan and yemen? are they more important? do your job! >> the hearing serve as a public discussion of the most controversial counterterrorism...
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when i joined the cia in august 1980, world events were unsettled. our embassy in teheran had been overrun the year before and 52 americans were still being held hostage by a radical new government in iran. the soviet invasion of afghanistan was less than a year old and the next decade we witnessed the slow but steady crumbling of the soviet union. weapons of mass destruction were a concern and u.s. officials were hard at work around the globe trying to prevent regional tensions and an mos if is from turning in to full-scale wars and ominously, the united states about to face an upsurge in terrorist attacks to claim hundreds of american lives in lebanon including a 49-year-old cia officer named bob ames killed in a brief visit to our embassy in beirut and who at the time was my boss at cia. during my 25-year career at cia, i watched up close and participated in history being made in far off corners of the world. as cia fulfilled the critical intelligence roles, collecting intelligence, uncovering secrets, identifying threats, partnering with foreign
when i joined the cia in august 1980, world events were unsettled. our embassy in teheran had been overrun the year before and 52 americans were still being held hostage by a radical new government in iran. the soviet invasion of afghanistan was less than a year old and the next decade we witnessed the slow but steady crumbling of the soviet union. weapons of mass destruction were a concern and u.s. officials were hard at work around the globe trying to prevent regional tensions and an mos if...
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the cia is not immune from the scrutiny of the efforts and i welcome a discussion of cia's past and current activities. if i am confirmed one of the highest priorities would be the committ committee's lengthy report of interrogation with now banned interrogation techniques. i have read the findings and executive summary of the 6,000 page report which raises a number of very serious issues. given the gravity and importance of the subject, i would look forward to further dialogue with members of the committee on the report and the findings if i'm confirmed. in addition, some of our government's current counterterrorism policies and operations sparked widespread debate, domestically, internationally and in this room. i have publicly acknowledged that the fight against al qaeda and associated forces has sometimes involved the use of lethal force outside the battlefield of afghanistan. accordingly, it is understandable that there's great interest in the legal basis and the thresholds, criteria, processes, procedures, approvals and reviews of such actions. i have strongly promoted such public dis
the cia is not immune from the scrutiny of the efforts and i welcome a discussion of cia's past and current activities. if i am confirmed one of the highest priorities would be the committ committee's lengthy report of interrogation with now banned interrogation techniques. i have read the findings and executive summary of the 6,000 page report which raises a number of very serious issues. given the gravity and importance of the subject, i would look forward to further dialogue with members of...
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the plan had received support from the pentagon, the cia, secretary clinton. but ultimately it was the white house that turned down the idea. >> both of you agreed with petraeus and clinton that we should start looking at military assistance in syria, is that correct? >> that was our position. i do want to say, senator, that obviously there were a number of factors that were reversed here that ultimately led to the president's decision to make it nonlethal. i supported his decision in the end. but the answer to your question is yes. >> for both of you? >> yes. >> "the wall street journal" says the white house was concerned about which rebels could be trusted with arms. was also worried about the risk of drawing the united states into another military conflict. but it was questions over benghazi that led to the most heated moments with secretary panetta and general dempsey defending the administration's response to the deadly raid on the u.s. consulate. >> for you to testify that our posture would not allow a rapid response, our posture was not there because we
the plan had received support from the pentagon, the cia, secretary clinton. but ultimately it was the white house that turned down the idea. >> both of you agreed with petraeus and clinton that we should start looking at military assistance in syria, is that correct? >> that was our position. i do want to say, senator, that obviously there were a number of factors that were reversed here that ultimately led to the president's decision to make it nonlethal. i supported his decision...
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interview on cnn and general mckrystal say -- >> you have been watching the confirmation hearings for cia director nominee john brennan, an explosive day of testimony marked with protests and contentious questioning, a story that will no doubt dominate the headlines for days to come. "hardball" picks things up right now. >>> defending the drones. let's play "hardball." ♪ >>> good evening. i'm michael smerconiummer komer chris matthews. secrets and spies. the man who is at the center of the national debate over the targeted killing of americans overseas has been in the hot seat on capitol hill. among other things john brennan coordinates the kill list and so his confirmation hearing to become head of the cia is drawing an unusual amount of interest and attention. we'll get to what he said and the reaction at the top of the show. >>> also, more and more people on the right are asking, who is karl rove and why should we listen to him anymore? rove wants electable republicans nominated. the tea partiers want their people in. real right wingers and they're trashing rove and establishment rep
interview on cnn and general mckrystal say -- >> you have been watching the confirmation hearings for cia director nominee john brennan, an explosive day of testimony marked with protests and contentious questioning, a story that will no doubt dominate the headlines for days to come. "hardball" picks things up right now. >>> defending the drones. let's play "hardball." ♪ >>> good evening. i'm michael smerconiummer komer chris matthews. secrets and...
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the deputy director of the cia does budgets, does personnel, works out problems, does lodgestics. that's one side of john brennan. the other side is he has this extraordinary relationship with the president and wants to protect the president and the only way he can protect the president is by making sure that this whole question of the protocol of drones is done correctly. drones are a part of our future. drones are a good part of warfare. they can be very helpful. there has to be a protocol which is absolute. even as you and i are talking, the white house, yes, they have agreed to release the olc, the office of legal counsel papers to the intelligence community, but they haven't agreed to release it to allow staff, compartmented staff, of each memb member. >> have you been able to read it yourself, sir? >> no, i have not. i've read the white paper, but not the olc. >> will you have access to it today? >> i would assume i would, yes. >> now, i want to ask you about your decision because since we last chatted, you have decided to step down from the senate to leave at the end of thi
the deputy director of the cia does budgets, does personnel, works out problems, does lodgestics. that's one side of john brennan. the other side is he has this extraordinary relationship with the president and wants to protect the president and the only way he can protect the president is by making sure that this whole question of the protocol of drones is done correctly. drones are a part of our future. drones are a good part of warfare. they can be very helpful. there has to be a protocol...
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but some are still concerned if it's legal and ask, what if the cia takes out the wrong person? >> we've got to see all, any and all, of those legal opinions, ones that the bipartisan group of senators asked for, before the vote. >> if you would remove that individual, please. >> reporter: protests just as brennan was getting started. >> i also believe it is important for you to set the record straight -- >> reporter: brennan tells lawmakers he objected to questionable interrogation tactics. >> waterboarding is r reprehensible and something that sha not be done. >> reporter: democrats are confident brennan will be confirmed. >> he was honest, he was forthright, he answered the questions. >> i think you're the guy for the job and the only guy for the job. >> reporter: next week the panel meets to discuss classified material. and of course, that classified material now includes the memo justifying why this administration is using drones. >>> don't panic but or planet is about a week away from a close encounter of an extraordinary kind. an asteroid with the not so sexy name of 2012
but some are still concerned if it's legal and ask, what if the cia takes out the wrong person? >> we've got to see all, any and all, of those legal opinions, ones that the bipartisan group of senators asked for, before the vote. >> if you would remove that individual, please. >> reporter: protests just as brennan was getting started. >> i also believe it is important for you to set the record straight -- >> reporter: brennan tells lawmakers he objected to...
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he's the most experienced person to take over the cia in quite some time. no one should stand in the way of that. >> okay, luke russert there in washington. thanks so much, luke. let's get right to our panel now. from washington karen finney, a columnist with the hill, and michael o'hanlon, senior foreign policy fellows at the brookings institution. welcome to you both. mike, if i can start with you. in addition to the many other responsibilities that you yourself carry, you're also a member of the cia's external advisory board. are you satisfied with john brennan's responses, particularly in relation to the drone program? >> well, you know, martin, i do think we need checks and balances in our system, and i think groping towards the right way to handle a question of whether it be drones or some other kind of use of force, the broader question here is using force in a country where we haven't before or against a person we haven't before, possibly an american citizen when you have got this very broad authorization on the use of force against an enemy that's
he's the most experienced person to take over the cia in quite some time. no one should stand in the way of that. >> okay, luke russert there in washington. thanks so much, luke. let's get right to our panel now. from washington karen finney, a columnist with the hill, and michael o'hanlon, senior foreign policy fellows at the brookings institution. welcome to you both. mike, if i can start with you. in addition to the many other responsibilities that you yourself carry, you're also a...
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john brennan faces his confirmation hearing to be the head of the cia on thursday this week. he will face questions from senators on the senate intelligence committee who will presumably ask him about his time in the cia of yore under george w. bush and his time as the face of the drone program under president barack obama. one of the senators who sits on the intelligence committee is going to get a chance to question john brennan is oregon democrat ron wyden, who is a bit of a contrarian on the issues. he recently wrote a letter to john brennan asking for answers of his own about targeted killing and why it's justified and how it's justified. the questions themselves are so basic that they are almost more telling than some of the answers they could but probably won't receive. questions like, for example, how much evidence does the president need to determine that a particular american can be lawfully killed? also, this is one that sticks with me, does the president have to provide individual americans with the opportunity to surrender before killing them? sand are there any
john brennan faces his confirmation hearing to be the head of the cia on thursday this week. he will face questions from senators on the senate intelligence committee who will presumably ask him about his time in the cia of yore under george w. bush and his time as the face of the drone program under president barack obama. one of the senators who sits on the intelligence committee is going to get a chance to question john brennan is oregon democrat ron wyden, who is a bit of a contrarian on...
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things, john brennan coordinates the kill list, and so his confirmation hearing to become head of the cia is drawing an unusual amount of interest and attention. we'll get to what he said and the reaction at the top of the show. >>> also, more and more people on the right are asking, who is karl rove and why should we listen to him anymore? rove wants electable republicans nominated. the tea partiers want their people in, real right wingers, and they're trashing rove and establishment republicans in the process. >>> plus, you've probably heard that chuck hagel once said the following, quote, the jewish lobby intimidates a lot of people up here. i'm not an israeli senator. i'm a united states senator. but what you probably haven't heard is the rest of that interview and why some people who know what hagel really said aren't angry with him at all. >>> and why is chris christie talking so much about his weight? maybe because he wants to talk about it on his terms, and why might that be? because perhaps he's running for president. >>> finally, the recently fired dick morris admits he was wron
things, john brennan coordinates the kill list, and so his confirmation hearing to become head of the cia is drawing an unusual amount of interest and attention. we'll get to what he said and the reaction at the top of the show. >>> also, more and more people on the right are asking, who is karl rove and why should we listen to him anymore? rove wants electable republicans nominated. the tea partiers want their people in, real right wingers, and they're trashing rove and establishment...
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leon panetta when he was head of the cia was clear that it is torture and the u.s. does not engage in torture. while there is a continuation of policies related to drones and targeted assassinations, i don't think that there is necessarily a continuation of or ttorture. >> well, the debate we are not having is what are the contours of this, and if we want to win hearts and minds to go back to a vietnam plauz, what are thrase, the contours of this? will it expand and come back to hit us in a strong way? >> as someone who knows the pro and con intell and we send people into the area to make people suspicious of each other, and killed people in a domestic sphere, aed on the know the ugliness and the nastiness of that and the ways in which have sat over and against any american notice that we are not the kind of country that does that, but to get on the other side of co-intel to say i need that to be reflected in the 21st history. >> and to that, brennan was the architect of the waterboarding program or in the testimony he said he was aware of at least 50 memos that it
leon panetta when he was head of the cia was clear that it is torture and the u.s. does not engage in torture. while there is a continuation of policies related to drones and targeted assassinations, i don't think that there is necessarily a continuation of or ttorture. >> well, the debate we are not having is what are the contours of this, and if we want to win hearts and minds to go back to a vietnam plauz, what are thrase, the contours of this? will it expand and come back to hit us in...
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drone policy and president obama's mick to head the cia readies to testify this afternoon on capitol hill, calls for greater transparency and legal justification for the killings have increased. the outcry reached a crescendo on monday when nbc's michael isikoff obtained a leaked white pair from the government suggesting that the u.s. government can kill american set zenz overseas without any specific intelligence indicating they are engaged in an active plot to attack the u.s. the expansive legal framework set off alarm bells. >> every american has the right to know when their government believes it's allowed to kill them. i don't think that as one person said, that is too much to ask. >> the "new york times" wrote "it was disturbing to see the twisted logic of the administration's lawyers laid out in black and white. it brought back unwelcome memories of memos written for president george w. bush to justify illegal wiretapping, indefinite detention, kidnapping, abuse, and torture. "time's" writer david carr put it more success iktly. drones, very effective at targeting and wiping o
drone policy and president obama's mick to head the cia readies to testify this afternoon on capitol hill, calls for greater transparency and legal justification for the killings have increased. the outcry reached a crescendo on monday when nbc's michael isikoff obtained a leaked white pair from the government suggesting that the u.s. government can kill american set zenz overseas without any specific intelligence indicating they are engaged in an active plot to attack the u.s. the expansive...
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. >>> president obama's nominee to head the cia can look forward to a grilling on capitol hill this morning. during confirmation hearings, john brennan will be asked to explain the legal justification tore predator drone strikes against u.s. citizens. they're expected to zero in as his chief counter-terrorism adviser, specifically what he knew and when he knew it. his knowledge of the administration's use of the tactic faces scrutiny after the release of confidential government documents. drones are used to kill americans believed to be leaders of al qaeda. that news brought backlash from both sides of the aisle along with demands of the administration's legal justification for the strikes. the white house bound to growing political pressure and agreed to hand over the documents to congress. dianne feinstein who heads the intelligence committee says lawmakers should know what brennan knew and when he knew it. she released a statement saying it's critical for the committee's oversight function to fully understand the legal basis for all intelligence and counter-terrorism operations. >>> in a
. >>> president obama's nominee to head the cia can look forward to a grilling on capitol hill this morning. during confirmation hearings, john brennan will be asked to explain the legal justification tore predator drone strikes against u.s. citizens. they're expected to zero in as his chief counter-terrorism adviser, specifically what he knew and when he knew it. his knowledge of the administration's use of the tactic faces scrutiny after the release of confidential government...
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>> i did not take steps to stop the cia's use of those techniques. i was not in the chain of command of that program. i expressed my personal objections and views to some agency colleagues. >> do you have a personal opinion whether water board something torture? >> i have a personal opinion waterboarding is reprehensible and something that should not be done and, again, i am not a lawyer, senator, and i can't address that question. >> nbc's capitol hill correspondent kelly o'donnell joins us now to talk about a busy day on the hill. kelly, let's start with the brennan hearing. what was fascinating to me is unlike most of these recent hearings we've seen, the criticism came from the president's own party, ron wyden, angus king, what did you make of it and what was the reaction afterward? were they satisfied with what they heard? >> well, not entirely yet but there were some things that did please them in the fact john brennan seemed to take seriously their concerns about transparency and he said, of course, that will have to be tested if he's confirme
>> i did not take steps to stop the cia's use of those techniques. i was not in the chain of command of that program. i expressed my personal objections and views to some agency colleagues. >> do you have a personal opinion whether water board something torture? >> i have a personal opinion waterboarding is reprehensible and something that should not be done and, again, i am not a lawyer, senator, and i can't address that question. >> nbc's capitol hill correspondent...
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and that's why the cia has turned into a paramilitary organization. and i think unwinding that may take some time. >> all right. senator angus king, dr. zbigniew brzezinski, david ignatius, thank you very much. david gregory, thank you as well. >> thanks. >> he's got exclusives on "meet the press" this sunday. >> the two lieutenants here, house and senate, eric cantor and richard durbin talking about the way forward after the state of the union. >> thanks very much, david gregory. good luck with that. >>> when we come back, meteorologist bill karins with the latest on the winter storm bearing down on the northeast. keep it right here on "morning joe." ♪ get ready for a lot more of that new-plane smell. we're building the youngest, most modern fleet among the largest us airlines to ensure that you are more comfortable and connected than ever. we are becoming a new american. a hybrid? most are just no fun to drive. now, here's one that will make you feel alive. meet the five-passenger ford c-max hybrid. c-max says ha. c-max says wheeee. which is what
and that's why the cia has turned into a paramilitary organization. and i think unwinding that may take some time. >> all right. senator angus king, dr. zbigniew brzezinski, david ignatius, thank you very much. david gregory, thank you as well. >> thanks. >> he's got exclusives on "meet the press" this sunday. >> the two lieutenants here, house and senate, eric cantor and richard durbin talking about the way forward after the state of the union. >> thanks...
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because the cia keeps killing people. or trying to kill people in other countries that we are not at war with. the cia at the time had taken it upon itself, it wasn't clear if they were acting alone or at various presidents' direction, but they had taken on the job of assassinations in foreign countries. assassinations and attempted assassinations. and the senate said that was not cool. this from the church report. "the evidence establishes that the united states was implicated in several assassination plots. the committee believes that short of war assassination is incompatible with american principles, international order, and morality. it should be rejected as a tool of foreign policy." the church committee report came out, said that. gerald ford issued an executive order banning assassinations. the select committees on intelligence were formed in the house and the senate to exert oversight over the cia. since the armed services committees who had been supposedly overseeing them had fallen down on the job, actually, th
because the cia keeps killing people. or trying to kill people in other countries that we are not at war with. the cia at the time had taken it upon itself, it wasn't clear if they were acting alone or at various presidents' direction, but they had taken on the job of assassinations in foreign countries. assassinations and attempted assassinations. and the senate said that was not cool. this from the church report. "the evidence establishes that the united states was implicated in several...
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>> you know, i think a frustration was built around mostly the cia and the really hostile relationship between congress and the agency over the years and what lawmakers feel is the agency's failure to brief them adequately on a lot of secret operation that is are happening overseas. i think brennan is generally safe. he did perform satisfactory according to a lot of these -- the key democrats an some of the republicans on the panel and will get confirmed. i think that will happen in the next couple of weeks but look for the issue of the drone strikes and whether or not there needs to be more oversight to become a hot issue in the next weeks. >> senator bob menendez, he says this is nonsense, a set-up, if you will. smoke and mirrors by conservative bloggers and such and supporters feel the same way. we heard his first comments an we played on this investigation. >> he's trying to make this all about a smear campaign from a small group of people. but the real problem for bob menendez is there have been reports that have surfaced showing he's taken action it appears on behalf of this mega
>> you know, i think a frustration was built around mostly the cia and the really hostile relationship between congress and the agency over the years and what lawmakers feel is the agency's failure to brief them adequately on a lot of secret operation that is are happening overseas. i think brennan is generally safe. he did perform satisfactory according to a lot of these -- the key democrats an some of the republicans on the panel and will get confirmed. i think that will happen in the...
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cia's activities. i think the best way to ensure that they're proud is for you to lead in correcting the false record and instituting the necessary reforms that will restore the cia's reputation for integrity and analytical rigor. the cia cannot be its best until the leadership faces the serious and grievous mistakes of this program. so if i might, let me turn to my first question. inaccurate information on the management, operation, effectiveness of the cia's detention and interrogation program was provided by the cia to the white house, the doj, congress, and the public. some of this information is regularly and publicly repeated today by former cia officials either knowingly or unknowingly. and although we now know this information is incorrect, the accurate information remains classified while inaccurate information has been declassified and regularly repeated. the committee will take up the matter of this report's declassification separately, but there's an important role i think the cia can play
cia's activities. i think the best way to ensure that they're proud is for you to lead in correcting the false record and instituting the necessary reforms that will restore the cia's reputation for integrity and analytical rigor. the cia cannot be its best until the leadership faces the serious and grievous mistakes of this program. so if i might, let me turn to my first question. inaccurate information on the management, operation, effectiveness of the cia's detention and interrogation...
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the confirmation hearings of cia director nominee john brennan got off to a rocky start today. human rights protesters from the activist group code pink interrupted the hearings before they even started. john brennan is the architect of the obama administration's drone warfare program, which includes targeted killings. once the hearing got under way, there was another disruption. the protester was escorted out. then there was another. same thing. seconds later there was another. and then another. finally, chairwoman senator dianne feinstein broke up the proceedings. >> we're going to halt the hearing. i'm going to ask that the room be cleared and that the code pink associates not be permitted to come back in. we've done this five times now and five times are enough. >> the chaos underscored the controversy of the administration's policy. many americans want to know how the united states can order the killings of american citizens without due process. earlier today the justice department provided congress with classified documents about the targeted killing program. this disclos
the confirmation hearings of cia director nominee john brennan got off to a rocky start today. human rights protesters from the activist group code pink interrupted the hearings before they even started. john brennan is the architect of the obama administration's drone warfare program, which includes targeted killings. once the hearing got under way, there was another disruption. the protester was escorted out. then there was another. same thing. seconds later there was another. and then...
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did the president's cia chief nominee quell concerns on the hill? we will ask our panel. plus, will lawmakers made headway on gun reform in the house? we will discuss the democrats' win-win scenario. also, is the gop's tent collapsing or just undergoing an incredibly messy renovation? we will talk paciderm problems and get up now for a little sequester semester with chris hayes. all that when "now" starts in a mere 180 seconds. room and make it shine? we get doing... ...with a store full of ways to get it done. we can all throw on our work clothes... ...and throw out any doubt. because right now's the time to take those rooms from... ..."think i can do this?" to... ..."let me show you what i just did." more saving. more doing. that's the power of the home depot. outsmart your budget with this ashland vanity, a special buy at $299. [ bop ] [ bop ] [ bop ] you can do that all you want, i don't like v8 juice. [ male announcer ] how about v8 v-fusion. a full serving of vegetables, a full serving of fruit. but what you taste is the fruit. so even you... could've had a v8. we c
did the president's cia chief nominee quell concerns on the hill? we will ask our panel. plus, will lawmakers made headway on gun reform in the house? we will discuss the democrats' win-win scenario. also, is the gop's tent collapsing or just undergoing an incredibly messy renovation? we will talk paciderm problems and get up now for a little sequester semester with chris hayes. all that when "now" starts in a mere 180 seconds. room and make it shine? we get doing... ...with a store...
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i think he will be a very good cia director. i suspect we're at the front end of a longer discussion about the drones. the paerp that i think your network recently set around after receiving it opened up a discussion, i think, and i'm sure that once john is at the cia, assuming he is confirmed, he will give a lot of attention to broadening this discussion. i think he favors that. >> he -- he has been in charge of a policy that has six-fold increased the targeted killings with drones. he was asked about it, but a lot of the questions that were in the actual legal memos that eventually under pressure, the white house turned over yesterday and under very tight restrictions where staff lawyers could not look at it also, they could not ask questions about that, so none of that material could be on the table yesterday, and there hasn't been a full understanding, i think, by the american people, as to the cost benefit naltsz of this policy. it is creating a big backlash in yemen and pakistan and other places. >> well, these are really
i think he will be a very good cia director. i suspect we're at the front end of a longer discussion about the drones. the paerp that i think your network recently set around after receiving it opened up a discussion, i think, and i'm sure that once john is at the cia, assuming he is confirmed, he will give a lot of attention to broadening this discussion. i think he favors that. >> he -- he has been in charge of a policy that has six-fold increased the targeted killings with drones. he...
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intelligence vet and his nominee for cia director. brennan was up for the same job in 2008, but his ties to coercive interrogation methods used under the bush administration forced him to withdraw his name. now brennan serves as a close adviser to president obama, overseeing one of the most controversial war-related programs. >> the united states is the first nation to regularly conduct strikes using remotely-piloted aircraft in an armed conflict. these targeted strikes against al qaeda terrorists are indeed ethical and just. >> reporter: after a failed attempt to kill bin laden in 1998, the u.s. government took decisive action to protect the homeland. three years later, the first successful predator drone strike killed a top al qaeda commander in afghanistan. and now that program is the white house's primary tool against terror. >> john developed and has overseen our comprehensive counterterrorism strategy, a collaborative effort across the government including intelligence and defense and homeland security and law enforcement agenci
intelligence vet and his nominee for cia director. brennan was up for the same job in 2008, but his ties to coercive interrogation methods used under the bush administration forced him to withdraw his name. now brennan serves as a close adviser to president obama, overseeing one of the most controversial war-related programs. >> the united states is the first nation to regularly conduct strikes using remotely-piloted aircraft in an armed conflict. these targeted strikes against al qaeda...
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because the administration's nominee for cia director john brennan is going to appear on thursday. he is one of the architects of this drone program. how do you think what has emerged today will affect that confirmation hearing? because we know chuck hagel had a difficult time, john kerry's was fairly straightforward. does this mean that john brennan may have quite a tough time thursday? >> reporter: he might. carney said he still believes brennan will be confirmed, but in a letter to president obama, 11 senators said that this could complicate those confirmation hearings, including ron widen, susan collins of maine saying that they want more answers about this. of course, brennan is really the only person in the administration who has spoken directly about the drone program making the point that the administration only targets someone if they believe they have good cause, if they believe that there won't be a lot of collateral damage. so this is something that he has talked about. carney pointed to the fact that a lot of this is still classified, so there are probably limits to wh
because the administration's nominee for cia director john brennan is going to appear on thursday. he is one of the architects of this drone program. how do you think what has emerged today will affect that confirmation hearing? because we know chuck hagel had a difficult time, john kerry's was fairly straightforward. does this mean that john brennan may have quite a tough time thursday? >> reporter: he might. carney said he still believes brennan will be confirmed, but in a letter to...
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. >> whether he should be the next cia director. >> he's determined, he's strong. >> john brennan is going to face questions. >> a lot of questions. >> about the legal justification for using drone strikes. >> drones set to take center stage. >> to kill american citizens. >> these targets are ethical and justified. >> these are not the drones you're looking for. >> republicans are at war with karl rove. bush's brain, as rove used to be known, when rove was thought to still have a brain, is on a mission to crush backcrap crazy republicans so the party will actually nominate more reasonable candidates who have a chance of winning general elections against democrats. today, a republican who writes big checks to karl rove told politico that the republican party, quote, has had too many candidates who are nut cases. i don't think anybody anywhere with any sense is going to want to elect a candidate who says if your daughter gets raped, it's god's will. give me a break, will you? the problem for karl rove is that he and his rich republican friends may be outnumbered by crazy republicans. a
. >> whether he should be the next cia director. >> he's determined, he's strong. >> john brennan is going to face questions. >> a lot of questions. >> about the legal justification for using drone strikes. >> drones set to take center stage. >> to kill american citizens. >> these targets are ethical and justified. >> these are not the drones you're looking for. >> republicans are at war with karl rove. bush's brain, as rove used to be...
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he got off scot-free even though he was at the center of the cia leak scandal. walked from that one. the architect couldn't help a republican majority in the 2006 midterms bring the democrats back to power in both the house and senate for the first time. he blew it all on the table. and in 2012 the sunlight foundation reported that crossroads had a 1%, $1 in $100, return on its election investment. so karl rove failed putting together a republican realignment, failed in holding the house and the white house and the senate, lost all that. got involved in the cia leak case, somehow got through that where scooter did get caught and the president -- actually the vice president should have been caught. that's not a good investment, joy, and yet there he is out there telling the republican party what it's got to do is get rid of the other guys, not him. >> absolutely. i'm glad you played that clip from rush limbaugh because in a lot of ways karl rove and rush limbaugh are very much the same. they're both using the same sort of know-nothing crowd, the people in the hin
he got off scot-free even though he was at the center of the cia leak scandal. walked from that one. the architect couldn't help a republican majority in the 2006 midterms bring the democrats back to power in both the house and senate for the first time. he blew it all on the table. and in 2012 the sunlight foundation reported that crossroads had a 1%, $1 in $100, return on its election investment. so karl rove failed putting together a republican realignment, failed in holding the house and...
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this as the president's pick for the cia director heads to capitol hill to defend his record as mastermind of the drone program. plus, republicans pick their guy to respond to the president's state of the union address. we'll explain what it means for the party moving forward. >>> a little later, a big snowstorm expected to dump up to two feet of snow in parts of new england. we'll show you who will be the hardest hit straight ahead. first, let's get to the news live here at 5:30 a.m. eastern time at 30 rock in new york city. we begin with new developments involving the nation's highly secretive drone campaign. members of congress demanding more details into how the administration justifies the targeted killing of american citizens. the white house says president obama has directed the department of justice to brief members of the intelligence committees. the move comes after five groups of 11 senators led by ron widen of oregon demanded insight into the government's legal rational for drone strikes against americans abroad. senator widen took his frustrations to twitter writing, every ame
this as the president's pick for the cia director heads to capitol hill to defend his record as mastermind of the drone program. plus, republicans pick their guy to respond to the president's state of the union address. we'll explain what it means for the party moving forward. >>> a little later, a big snowstorm expected to dump up to two feet of snow in parts of new england. we'll show you who will be the hardest hit straight ahead. first, let's get to the news live here at 5:30 a.m....
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he never said the cia was firing the drones. >> we know that is the case. leon panetta over the weekend. >> so the point is, how he is going to thread the needle of what he can say and what he is not will be interesting. >> that's okay. you are a busy reporter. these sorts are calling. a busy day for you. democrats and republicans on the hill are working on gun control policy. what can get through congress? that's next. trivia question, eight african-americans will have served in the senate. how many were elected to the senate by popular vote? daily run down's first correct answer will get a follow-through. >>> many of you have scars on your back like i do from having attempted to act and continuing to try to act and deal with the senselessness of gun violence in america. >> that was vice president biden at the house democrat retreat pushing his party to fight on the issue of gun control. it shows overwhelming support for the idea of a background check for all gun buyers. 92% support for that. but the political will to get it done. here is democrat caroline
he never said the cia was firing the drones. >> we know that is the case. leon panetta over the weekend. >> so the point is, how he is going to thread the needle of what he can say and what he is not will be interesting. >> that's okay. you are a busy reporter. these sorts are calling. a busy day for you. democrats and republicans on the hill are working on gun control policy. what can get through congress? that's next. trivia question, eight african-americans will have served...
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develops right now, nominee for cia director john brennan going on the hot seat in a matter of hours as the white house makes an about face on its controversial drone program and the targeting of americans overseas. the obama administration now breaking years of secrecy and handing over a confidential 16-page memo that justifies the targeting killing of u.s. citizens abroad suspected of being terrorists. this decision to release the document came hours before brennan was to face a serious grilling by lawmakers outraged over the program. the biggest critic, democratic senator ron wyden who says the president has been stonewalling congress for years and suggested blocking brennan's nomination. president obama called wyden specifically last night. >> clearly, the president's call to senator wyden so unusual and trying to ward off what could be a calamitous hearing today. >> what standard will barack obama be held to after the pictures of the little children who were killed by his cone drone attacks are placed before the jury in the hague? >> i was encouraged last night when the presiden
develops right now, nominee for cia director john brennan going on the hot seat in a matter of hours as the white house makes an about face on its controversial drone program and the targeting of americans overseas. the obama administration now breaking years of secrecy and handing over a confidential 16-page memo that justifies the targeting killing of u.s. citizens abroad suspected of being terrorists. this decision to release the document came hours before brennan was to face a serious...
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a day ahead of john brennan's confirmation hearing to head the cia, the obama administration's drone program is drawing new scrutiny from both sides of the aisle and raising big questions about just how far the government should go in targeted assassinations without oversight from congress or from the courts. joining me now for our daily fix, msnbc contributor and "usa today" washington bureau chief. chris, first to you, i don't think there is any big question so far as to whether or not john brennan is going to be confirmed at least going into the hearing, but this is a real debate now. because of michael isikoff breaking the story and finding that white paper, and discovering that the justice department had at least september that much to the hill, some members, the 11 senators and at least three the committee asking big questions about why there isn't more oversight. >> what's fascinating is when they announced the trio of nominations, john kerry at state, chuck hagel at defense and john brennan for cia, i remember being on the show and saying i think hagel will be the most contro
a day ahead of john brennan's confirmation hearing to head the cia, the obama administration's drone program is drawing new scrutiny from both sides of the aisle and raising big questions about just how far the government should go in targeted assassinations without oversight from congress or from the courts. joining me now for our daily fix, msnbc contributor and "usa today" washington bureau chief. chris, first to you, i don't think there is any big question so far as to whether or...
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he is a veteran of the cia. a lot of people argue from inside the intelligence community that he is the perfect head of the cia because he is well respected and has, you know, a life-long career there. he is very close to the president. and you can really see the body language when the president was nominating him, just how close they are. this is a friendship. this is not just a working relationship. so it will certainly enhance the cia's clout inside the white house to have him as the head of it. there is a very highly regarded acting director, mike morel, who could have been nominate in order post as well, and is staying at the agency. so the agency is in very familiar hands right now while we go through this process. but this hearing, remember, is in front of the intelligence committee. ron wyden is something of an outlier in that the intelligence committees are pretty much very much in sync with what the administration warrants on the war on terror. this is the first real rebellion. >> fascinating stuff. i
he is a veteran of the cia. a lot of people argue from inside the intelligence community that he is the perfect head of the cia because he is well respected and has, you know, a life-long career there. he is very close to the president. and you can really see the body language when the president was nominating him, just how close they are. this is a friendship. this is not just a working relationship. so it will certainly enhance the cia's clout inside the white house to have him as the head of...
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counterterrorism adviser john brennan heads to capitol hill for his confirmation hearing to take over the cia, the white house has to answer some tough questions about its overseas drone program. the catalyst is a leaked white house memo obtained by nbc's michael isikoff that justifies in certain cases attacks on american citizens abroad. the white house has forced strong criticisms from advocates over the drone policy. ron wyden tweeted today every american has the right to know when the government believes it is allowed to kill them. what's surprising people is how much most americans seem to casually accept this as the cost of doing business in a dangerous world. eugene robbins is a columnist and david corn is from mother jones. both are msnbc political analysts. let's take a look here at ed carney, the president's spokesman, talk about this. it was a briefing today and carney defended the president's position on drones but also faced some tough questions. let's listen. >> i won't talk about specific instances, but the fact is that the methods that we use are designed specifically to avoid
counterterrorism adviser john brennan heads to capitol hill for his confirmation hearing to take over the cia, the white house has to answer some tough questions about its overseas drone program. the catalyst is a leaked white house memo obtained by nbc's michael isikoff that justifies in certain cases attacks on american citizens abroad. the white house has forced strong criticisms from advocates over the drone policy. ron wyden tweeted today every american has the right to know when the...
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john brennan was once the deputy cia director. he is now president obama's counterterrorism director at the white house. but if he is to run the cia for president obama, john brennan is first going to have to face questions on thursday about some of what michael isikoff turned up here on this program last night. a justice department white paper elaborating the administration's reasoning for why it thinks it is legal to kill american citizens on the president's say so. or actually, on the say so of an informed high level official of the u.s. government. so maybe that's the president, but maybe that's somebody else. michael isikoff's scoop ended up at "the new york times" today and "the washington post" and "the hill" and slate and salon and ap to name a few. it was everywhere. and then at a press conference today, the attorney general was asked about it. >> last night nbc reported a white paper that was prepared by the justice department undated, unsigned about the legal -- the legal pinnacles for targeting americans overseas. coul
john brennan was once the deputy cia director. he is now president obama's counterterrorism director at the white house. but if he is to run the cia for president obama, john brennan is first going to have to face questions on thursday about some of what michael isikoff turned up here on this program last night. a justice department white paper elaborating the administration's reasoning for why it thinks it is legal to kill american citizens on the president's say so. or actually, on the say so...
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and the cia's past use of secret detentions. sfwlimplgts plus, the disturbing vote out of north korea that appears to show new york city in flames after a dream sequence of a nuclear attack. this is "andrea mitchell reports" only on msnbc. ldn't itl if we took the nissan altima and reimagined nearly everything in it? gave it greater horsepower and class-leading 38 mpg highway... advanced headlights... and zero gravity seats? yeah, that would be cool. introducing the completely reimagined nissan altima. it's our most innovative altima ever. nissan. innovati that excites. now get a $199-per-month lease on the 2013 nissan altima. ♪ . >>> we say that we only take these kinds of actions when there's an imminent threat when capture is not feasible and when we are confident that we are doing so in a way that's consistent with federal and international law. >> the u.s. government can order the killing of american citizens if they are believed to be "senior operational leaders of al qaeda" or its subsidiary groups. investigative corres
and the cia's past use of secret detentions. sfwlimplgts plus, the disturbing vote out of north korea that appears to show new york city in flames after a dream sequence of a nuclear attack. this is "andrea mitchell reports" only on msnbc. ldn't itl if we took the nissan altima and reimagined nearly everything in it? gave it greater horsepower and class-leading 38 mpg highway... advanced headlights... and zero gravity seats? yeah, that would be cool. introducing the completely...
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and -- to rein in cia access. >> colonel, this is warfare that americans aren't used to. and they ask questions about what are our constitutional -- what is our leeway here? what is fair game and what is not? and how are these decisions being made? is this just the new wave of warfare that we have to get used to? >> it is, because we have the technology now to do things we haven't done before. but the argument that congress ought to be involved in supervising this is an important one, and we should not ignore it. the congress has a responsibility, not just the authority, but the responsibility to supervise the activities of the executive branch, and in particular, the intelligence committee which takes a look at all the black programs and is kept in the loop on everything certainly has the capability of making an evaluation of what is the right thing to do and is the wrong thing to do, and needs to weigh in. to the extent it doesn't do that, then it's abrogated its responsibilities. >> sam, what is your take on what the hearings are going to be like tomorrow for mr. brenn
and -- to rein in cia access. >> colonel, this is warfare that americans aren't used to. and they ask questions about what are our constitutional -- what is our leeway here? what is fair game and what is not? and how are these decisions being made? is this just the new wave of warfare that we have to get used to? >> it is, because we have the technology now to do things we haven't done before. but the argument that congress ought to be involved in supervising this is an important...
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and -- to rein in cia access. >> colonel, this is warfare that americans aren't used to. and they ask questions about what are our constitutional -- what is our leeway here? what is fair game and what is not? and how are these decisions being made? is this just the new wave of warfare that we have to get used to? >> it is, because we have the technology now to do things we haven't done before. but the argument that congress ought to be involved in superadvising this is an important one, and we should not ignore it. the congress has a responsibility, not just the authority, but the responsibility to supervise the activities of the executive branch, and in particular, the intelligence committee which takes a look at all the black programs and is kept in the loop on everything certainly has the capability of making an evaluation of what is the right thing to do and is the wrong thing to do, and needs to weigh in. to the extent it doesn't do that, then it's abrogated its responsibilities. >> sam, what is your take on what the hearings are going to be like tomorrow for mr. bre
and -- to rein in cia access. >> colonel, this is warfare that americans aren't used to. and they ask questions about what are our constitutional -- what is our leeway here? what is fair game and what is not? and how are these decisions being made? is this just the new wave of warfare that we have to get used to? >> it is, because we have the technology now to do things we haven't done before. but the argument that congress ought to be involved in superadvising this is an important...
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away for the president and it was particularly interesting timing given that today his nominee for the cia is going to have his confirmation hearing, and, quite frankly, there was a growing bipartisan call in the senate in congress for the white house to finally acknowledge this program and provide the legal basis for the targeting killings by drones. this has been something that has been -- they've been under pressure for years to acknowledge and to provide more guidance on to congress and just to the public at large, and, quite frankly, this hearing today, you know, john brennan wasn't going to be able to escape questions, and it probably would have been very difficult for him, still will be difficult, but you have both democrats and republicans in congress openly contemplating the idea that they may not even confirm john brennan. so this was really the white house being pushed to the brink here and having to finally move forward with what little bit of what congress wants. >> we heard ron wyden say this is a step. nia-malika your paper argues this should be released. yet 83% of american
away for the president and it was particularly interesting timing given that today his nominee for the cia is going to have his confirmation hearing, and, quite frankly, there was a growing bipartisan call in the senate in congress for the white house to finally acknowledge this program and provide the legal basis for the targeting killings by drones. this has been something that has been -- they've been under pressure for years to acknowledge and to provide more guidance on to congress and...
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that could be the cia director. could be john brennan who has been the architect of the drone campaign. >> that's very subjective. >> but clearly there's a lot of latitude there for people who to make decisions about who they want to go -- which american citizens they want to go after and which they don't. >> talking about stretching the actual framework of american law and the constitution. that's going to spark a hearty debate, i imagine, when john brennan meets his conversation. mike isikoff, i have a feeling you'll have a very busy day having to explain on air what you did off air last night in breaking that story. thank you, sir. >> thank you. >>> up next, a republican party at a crossroads. get it? grand old problem. is party purity more important than winning elections. we have one of the men running karl rove's new push to push candidates who can win. >>> first, a look ahead at today's politics planner. as you can see, the vice president is in the uk today meeting with prime minister cameron, among others. n
that could be the cia director. could be john brennan who has been the architect of the drone campaign. >> that's very subjective. >> but clearly there's a lot of latitude there for people who to make decisions about who they want to go -- which american citizens they want to go after and which they don't. >> talking about stretching the actual framework of american law and the constitution. that's going to spark a hearty debate, i imagine, when john brennan meets his...
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you know, the cia tried many times to kill fidel castro. it was just unsuccessful at it. >> well that's -- >> i'm a realist. >> kill him, i'm not sure. but i can't deny it. i know they tried to defoliate him with his beard. i know they tried to give him hallucinogens. >> the poison cigar i think was meant to kill him, but the point being that i don't want any single individual, and, you know, i'm a supporter of president obama's, but i don't want any single individual, not george w. bush, not barack obama, to have the authority to say we're going to kill these people. and nor do i want it to be obama and a group of people over whom he has authority. i don't want it to be people in the military who answer to him. i want it to be people of an outside branch of government who feel the independence to disagree with the president. >> well said. i think yesterday john brennan was grilled about various aspects of this program, including the rights of americans who might be on the kill list. take a look at how he answered a question on that from se
you know, the cia tried many times to kill fidel castro. it was just unsuccessful at it. >> well that's -- >> i'm a realist. >> kill him, i'm not sure. but i can't deny it. i know they tried to defoliate him with his beard. i know they tried to give him hallucinogens. >> the poison cigar i think was meant to kill him, but the point being that i don't want any single individual, and, you know, i'm a supporter of president obama's, but i don't want any single individual,...